Reflux column



Oct. 19 1926,

W. W. HOLLAN D REFLUX C OLUMN Filed May 12, 1924 Patented Oct.A 19, 1926.

UNITED .STATES.PATENT-OFFICE.-

WILLIAM W. HOLLAND, OF ALTON, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNORVTO STANDARD OIL COMPANY,

OF WHITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION F INDIANA.

REFLUX. COLUMN.

Application filed May 12,

The present invention relates improve ments in fractionating columns, and more particularly to reflux fractionating columns intended for use in connection with the dif tillation ofmaterials such as petroleum and its various refinery fractions or cuts. 4

The invention will be clearly understood from the following description, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a column or tower embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view on the line 2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. y

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a` vertical shell, preferably of cylindrical form, having near its lower end a vapor inlet 6 from a still (not shown) in which the material to be distilled is heated. At the bottom of the tower 5 a discharge line 7 is provided, which may suitably return reflux formed in the column to said still. Vapors uncondensed in the top4 of the tower pass out through a va-porline 9, for example, to a suitable condenser (not shown).

Just below the vapor outlet 9 a plurality of baffle plates 10 are rovided, which prevent entrai'nment of re ux or condensate by,

the vapors passing out of the column. These baille plates 10 may be of any desired form, those illustrated being of the doughnut and disk type. v

Between the opening of the inlet pipe 6 and` the separator or baille plates 1Q', the tower 5 is divided transversely by numerousspaced plates 12, portions of which are shown on an enlarged scale in Fi 2in plan and in Fig. 3 in section. Each o the' spaced plates 12 is provided with a large number of small openings 13, in each of which is supported a depending tube 14. The upper ends of the tubes 14 do not extend appreciably above the up er surface of the plates 12,

. being prefera ly flush therewith or slightly therebelow. The tubes 14 depend freely for a considerable proportion of the space between each plate and that below it; forexample, from one-fourth to three-fourths of the space between plates.

The tubes are preferably not overthreefourths inch in internal diameter, smaller 5. tubes being in general preferred.

1924. serial- No. 712,566.

twenty foot column four feet in diameter,

vit has been found satisfactory to space the plates 12 inches apart and to` provide for each plate thirty-fivehundred to thirty-six hundred one-fourth inch tubes, substantially equally spaced from each other, and depend- 4 ing approximately 5 inches-below the sur-l face of the' supporting plate. These proportions are given for the purpose of illustration, and may be varied widely within the limits hereinbefore set forth, andas stated in the following claims. t

It is preferred that all of the transverse plates of the column be provided with depending tubesl in the manner herein described. It is readily apparent, however, that other types of fractionating plates may be employed. in the lower or intermediate portions-of the tower..v

In the operation `of the tower, the tubes 14 provide the sole passages ,for the ascending vapors and descending condensates. In

travelling through thesel tubes, descending condensate is .broken into extremely iine droplets and films and is caused to provide an extensive and intimate contact surface with the ascending vapors. There is like- Wise an. extensive indirect heat-conductive relationship between the 'vapors which surround and eddy about the exterior of the tubes and the reflux descending there-A through, which further improves the heat transfer between vapors and liquids within the column. v

In practice, it has been found that the fractionating column of the present invention is exceedingly efficient in separating desired lightproducts from heaviei` products contained in the vapors passing there through. For example, with this column, separations of gasoline having a predeterminedv end point have been made from crude oils, ressure distillates, steam still stocks and t e like equal to and exceeding in proportion the theoretical proportions calculated on the basis of the distillationcurves of the stock distilled.

I claim:

1. I-n a reflux fractionating lcolumn having a vertical columnar vapor passage, a plurality of spaced plates, and spaced open tubes `extending from the upper surfaces of plates downwardly freely for -a substantial proportion of the spaces between thel plates, said spaces 'communicating solely through said open tubes.

v 2. In a reflux fractionating column having a vertical column'anvap'or space, a plurality of spaced transverse plates, and a plurality of small open tubes depending freely from the upper surfaces of said plates into the spaces therebetween, said spaces com- 10 muncating solely through said open tubes.

3. -In areflux fraetionating columnv hav'- in'g' a vertical columnar vapor passage, a plurality of spaced transverse plates, a plurality of open tubes of less lthan threefourths inch internal diameter extending w. HOLLAND. 

